Mylodon darwini Owen (Xenarthra, Mylodontinae) from the Late Pleistocene of Mesopotamia, Argentina, with remarks on individual variability, paleobiology, paleobiogeography, and paleoenvironment

ABSTRACT

The subfamily Mylodontinae, typified by Mylodon, is known from the Colloncuran (late Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina) to the late Pleistocene of South America and North America. Mylodontinae have been recorded during the Pleistocene of Argentina, including the genera Glossotherium, Paraglossotherium, Lestodon, and Mylodon, with Paraglossotherium and Mylodon not as well known as the other genera. In Argentina there have been traditionally four species of Mylodon, M. darwini, M. zeballozi, M. listai, and M. insigne, although the validity of some has been considered doubtful. A nearly complete skull with an associated mandible of Mylodon darwini from the late Pleistocene of Mesopotamia, Argentina, is described. The specimen represents the first record of the species in the Mesopotamian region. The morphometric analysis indicates that M. darwini had greater individual variability than previously thought. Although based on the results of the morphologic and morphometric analysis, the idea of sexual dimorphism for M. darwini is, for the time being, unwarranted. This new record also supports the idea that Mylodon had great ecological tolerance and was capable of inhabiting climates ranging from cold and arid to warm and humid, and even montane environments.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank C. Vassallo and S. Cettour (MACNC), M. Reguero (MLP), A. Kramarz (MACN), and J. Ramirez (MMCIPAS) for access to the collections under their care. S. Bargo provided photographs and measurements of MNHN-BOL-V 006470. Discussion with S. Vizcaíno, A. Scarano, and F. Giri improved an early version of the manuscript. G. Gottardi (CICYTTP) prepared the specimen MACNC Pv 2334. J. González made the illustrations. D. Croft and two anonymous reviewers provide helpful comments and suggestions. We also thank Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET). This paper is a contribution to the following projects: PICT 2006-344, PICT 2007-392, CNPq/PROSUL 490299/2008-3, and PIP 886.